79S30304 MDM-D

By:  Veasey                                                       H.R. No. 61 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Members and friends of Great Commission Baptist 
Church in Fort Worth gathered together on March 12, 2006, to 
celebrate the dedication of the congregation's stunning new 
facility; and
	WHEREAS, Offering exciting opportunities for members of the 
church and the wider community, the addition covers more than 
91,000 square feet and includes a 2,300-seat sanctuary, a family 
life and education center, and an administrative wing; and
	WHEREAS, This dynamic church traces its roots back to 1984, 
when a study was undertaken to determine interest in the formation 
of a predominantly African American Baptist church for the 
southwest Fort Worth area; the first members to join the church did 
so on May 19, 1985, and by month's end the rolls listed 37 
congregants; initially, services were held at the Danciger Jewish 
Community Center; and
	WHEREAS, Great Commission was originally sponsored by 
Gambrell Street Baptist Church as part of its mission program, and 
later, the young congregation was further assisted by cosponsoring 
church Parkridge Baptist, which offered its facilities for worship 
and Bible study; and
	WHEREAS, The Reverend Ricky Armstrong served as the first 
pastor of Great Commission Baptist Church, which has been blessed 
with inspired leadership since its inception; succeeding Reverend 
Armstrong in an interim capacity was the Reverend Robert Glass, and 
he was followed in turn by the Reverends Jesse L. Rutledge, Adrian 
Wallace, SeRyan Williams, Melvin Mayfield, Odell Theadford, and 
Eric Arnold; and
	WHEREAS, Led by the Reverend Douglas E. Brown since 1993, the 
church has enjoyed remarkable growth, expanding in membership from 
53 worshippers to more than 4,000; since Reverend Brown's 
installation, the congregation has bought land and constructed 
buildings at 7700 McCart Avenue, and it has developed outreach 
efforts and ministries that currently number more than 40; and
	WHEREAS, With the completion of this impressive addition to 
the church's physical plant, the members of Great Commission 
Baptist have gained a resource that will assist immeasurably in 
furthering their mission and that will benefit countless 
individuals in the years to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate the Reverend 
Douglas Brown and all those associated with Great Commission 
Baptist Church on the dedication of their outstanding new facility; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.